Former RPD chief settles lawsuit against City of Rochester, former Mayor Warren

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — Details and numbers have emerged from the settlement with former Rochester Police Chief La’Ron Singletary’s wrongful termination lawsuit against the City of Rochester and former mayor Lovely Warren.

In a statement released by the city, it said the settlement negotiations were finalized in December 2021, signed on Jan. 28 and filed on Feb. 25, 2022.

"In the settlement, the City agreed to pay La’Ron Singletary $75,000, and provide health insurance benefits consistent with those he would have received through retirement. There were no non-disclosure or confidentiality agreements tied to the settlement. The settlement does not constitute an admission of wrongdoing on the part of the City."

Singletary began the legal process in September, alleging defamation of character, a hostile work environment, and wrongful and retaliatory termination over the fallout he experienced after Daniel Prude died seven days after Rochester Police Officers put him in handcuffs. After he was restrained, he was not breathing and had no pulse. He was taken to Strong Memorial Hospital where he died seven days later after being taken off of life support.

Prude’s cause of death was ruled as complications of asphyxia due to physical restraint, excited delirium and PCP by the Monroe County Medical Examiner.

A legal document filed Friday states the lawsuit is discontinued with prejudice, meaning Singletary can’t file another lawsuit against the same defendants alleging the same things.

Singletary’s attorneys sent News10NBC the following statement Friday on behalf of their client:

"Following voluntary mediation and negotiations, the attorneys for Mr. Singletary announce that on January 28, 2022, the parties signed a binding agreement for the resolution of the litigation. We announce the settlement at this time because as of today, all the terms of the settlement have been satisfied and the litigation has been formally discontinued.

"Mr. Singletary believes that the ability to move on to the next chapter was not only in his interest, but in the interest of the community as a whole.

"Accordingly, Mr. Singletary announces this case has been fully and finally resolved. Mr. Singletary cares greatly about his community and wishes to move forward."

Singletary commented on his decision.

Brean: "Why was this the right thing to do for you?"

Singletary: "It was the right thing to do for me because for me it was not about breaking the bank of the city of Rochester. It was about showing compromise and more so, it was about the people, moving forward. I’ve been a life long resident of the city of Rochester, served, protected and defended the people of the city of Rochester. For me it was never about trying to break the bank. To me it was about trying to come to some sort of resolve and, as a 20 year employee, get back something that was wrongly taken from me as an employee from the city of Rochester. As you know the city paid me $75,000 as well as we negotiated health care, which based on our economic estimation, the value of that health care is about $600,000."

Singletary is currently running as a Republican candidate for New York’s 25th Congressional District, which is currently occupied by Democrat Joe Morelle.

You can read the full settlement here.

Singletary Settlement Stip by News10NBC on Scribd